Dave Bautista has said that he is ready to leave the Guardians of the Galaxyfranchise if James Gunn’s script isn’t used, as fallout continues from the director’s sacking.

Disney cut ties with the director of the first two Guardians films shortly after tweets from 2008 and 2009 in which he seemingly jokes about rape and paedophilia were brought to light by conservative website The Daily Caller.

In a new interview with Shortlist, Bautista, who plays Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel franchise, said that he is ready to walk away from the project if Gunn’s script isn’t used.

A replacement director for Gunn is yet to be announced, but he had turned in his script before the sacking. “Where I’m at right now is that if [Marvel] don’t use that script, then I’m going to ask them to release me from my contract, cut me out or recast me. I’d be doing James a disservice if I didn’t,” Bautista said.

“Nobody’s defending his tweets, but this was a smear campaign on a good man,” the actor continued. “I spoke to Chris Pratt the day after it happened and he’s a bit religious so he wanted time to pray and figure it out, but I was more like: fuck this. This is bullshit. James is one of the kindest, most decent people I’ve met.”